Thousands across Paris mourn rock star Johnny Hallyday

PARIS — Hundreds of motorcycles roared down the Champs-Élysées and crowds sang in unison as tens of thousands of fans of Johnny Hallyday, the French rock star who died this past week, lined the streets of Paris on Saturday for his funeral procession.

The fans gathered in the blistering cold to bear witness to the singer, some holding pictures or homemade signs, some crying. Many had arrived from around the country in the early morning to secure a spot along Paris’ most famous avenue, hoping to catch a glimpse of the hearse carrying Hallyday’s coffin.

In a tribute befitting a man who sold more than 100 million records and filled stadiums around the country and beyond in a career that spanned nearly 60 years, the day was both giant in scale and intimate in sentiment.

The proceedings were broadcast live on several television channels, the culmination of days of coverage by French news media that started early Wednesday, when news broke that Hallyday had died at 74 of lung cancer.

The procession started at the Mont-Valérien funeral parlor in Nanterre, a suburb west of Paris, and made its way to the Arc de Triomphe, where it was joined by about 700 motorcyclists. Hallyday had loved cars and motorbikes and collected them.

A giant black-and-white portrait of Hallyday had been set up in front of the Madeleine church, where his funeral was held and attended by dozens of famous singers, actors and top government officials, including President Emmanuel Macron.“You had to be here for Johnny, because from the beginning, Johnny was there for you,” Macron said.

Friday night, the words “Merci Johnny” were projected onto the Eiffel Tower.